RF output stage switching mechanism

ABSTRACT

An electrosurgical unit including a radio frequency generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy. The radio frequency generator includes a first receptacle configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver bipolar radiofrequency energy. A second receptacle is included and configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy. The radiofrequency generator includes a relay circuit configured to allow simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces in the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/073,705, filed Oct. 31, 2014, entitledCOMBINATION PEAK PLASMA AND TRANSCOLLATION TIP, and claims priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/164,930, filed May 21,2015, entitled ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

n/a

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electrosurgical unit having aradiofrequency generator, and in particular, relay circuitry configuredto allow simultaneous operation of two electrosurgical hand pieces.

BACKGROUND

Electrosurgery is the application of radiofrequency electrical energy tobiological tissue to cut, coagulate, desiccate, or fulgurate tissue.Electrosurgical units typically include an electrosurgical generatorconfigured to supply the electrical energy, and an electrosurgical handpiece configure to electrically couple with the electrosurgical unit anddeliver the electrical energy to the tissue. There are two modes bywhich electrosurgical energy is typically applied to tissue. Monopolarelectrosurgery is the passage of high-frequency current to tissuethrough a single active electrode to a return electrode positionedremotely from the electrode where heating does not take place. Bipolarelectrosurgery is the passage of high-frequency current to tissuebetween two commonly-supported active electrodes where both activelyheat tissue.

Monopolar configurations are widely used for general cutting andcoagulation procedures, as the current field has a high current densitynear the active electrode. Bipolar configurations are widely used forprocedures such as coagulation and ablation of tissue where a volume oftissue is positioned between two active electrodes. The current field ina bipolar device is contained between the two electrodes. Thus, it maybe advantageous to use both a bipolar hand piece and a monopolar handpiece during the same procedure and at the same time to provide formultiple treatment modalities and reduce surgical times. However,current electrosurgical units only allow for the surgeon to use eitherone electrosurgical hand piece at time or to use two electrosurgicalhand pieces at a time, but those two electrosurgical hand pieces mustoperate in monopolar mode only. Thus, no electrosurgical units existsthat allow for the simultaneous operation of a monopolar hand piece anda bipolar hand piece.

SUMMARY

The present invention advantageously provides for an electrosurgicalunit including a radiofrequency generator configured to generateelectrosurgical energy. The radiofrequency generator includes a firstreceptacle configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgicalhand piece configured to deliver bipolar radio frequency energy. Asecond receptacle is included and configured to electrically couple withan electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver monopolarradiofrequency energy. The radiofrequency generator includes a relaycircuit configured to allow simultaneous radiofrequency energy deliveryto the electrosurgical hand pieces in the first receptacle and thesecond receptacle.

In another embodiment, the electrosurgical unit includes aradiofrequency generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy.The radio frequency generator includes a first receptacle configured toelectrically couple with a first electrosurgical hand piece configuredto deliver bipolar radio frequency energy. A second receptacleconfigured to electrically couple with: a second electrosurgical handpiece configured to deliver both monopolar radiofrequency energy andbipolar radio frequency energy and a third electrosurgical hand piececonfigured to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy is included. Theradiofrequency generator includes a relay circuit configured to allowsimultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical handpieces in the first receptacle and the second receptacle when the firstelectrosurgical hand piece is electrically coupled to the firstreceptacle, and at least one of: the second electrosurgical hand pieceis electrically coupled to the second receptacle and the second handpiece is activated to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy, and thethird electrosurgical hand piece is electrically coupled to the secondreceptacle.

In yet another embodiment, the electrosurgical unit includes aradiofrequency generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy.The radiofrequency generator includes a first receptacle configured toelectrically couple with a first electrosurgical hand piece configuredto deliver bipolar radiofrequency energy, the first receptacle beingelectrically coupled to an active bipolar radiofrequency output and areturn bipolar radiofrequency output. A second receptacle is configuredto electrically couple with at least one of: a second electrosurgicalhand piece configured to deliver both monopolar radiofrequency energyand bipolar radiofrequency energy; and a third electrosurgical handpiece configured to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy. The secondreceptacle is electrically coupled to the return bipolar radiofrequencyoutput. The radiofrequency generator includes a relay circuit configuredto allow simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to theelectrosurgical hand pieces in the first receptacle and the secondreceptacle when the first electrosurgical hand piece is electricallycoupled to the first receptacle and at least one of: the secondelectrosurgical hand piece is electrically coupled to the secondreceptacle and the second hand piece is activated to deliver monopolarradiofrequency energy and the third electrosurgical hand piece iselectrically coupled to the second receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an electrosurgical hand piece andelectrosurgical unit constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present application; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a switching circuit of a radiofrequencygenerator of the electrosurgical unit shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used here, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and“bottom,” “front and rear,” and the like, may be used solely todistinguish one entity or element from another entity or element withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationshipor order between such entities or elements.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators referto like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 and exemplary electrosurgicalunit (“ESU”) constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent application and designated generally as “10.” The ESU 10 mayinclude a radiofrequency generator 12 configured to house andelectrically couple the components and circuits of the ESU 10 and atouch actuated display 14 configured to receive energy requests from oneor more electrosurgical hand pieces that electrically couple to theradiofrequency generator 12, display treatment progress andmeasurements, for example, impedance, and initiate and/or terminate thesupply of radiofrequency energy and fluid with one or moreelectrosurgical hand pieces that may be electrically coupled to the ESU10. In an exemplary configuration, the ESU 10 includes a firstreceptacle 16, which may be a 3-pin connector configured to receive andelectrically couple with a first electrosurgical hand piece 18configured to deliver bipolar radiofrequency energy to tissue. The ESU10 may further include a second receptacle 20, for example, a 7-pinreceptacle, configured to receive and electrically couple with a secondelectrosurgical hand piece 22 configured to deliver at least one ofmonopolar radiofrequency energy or a combination of bipolarradiofrequency energy and monopolar radiofrequency energy. In anexemplary configuration, the second electrosurgical hand piece 22 is anelectrosurgical hand piece constructed in accordance with the principlesof the electrosurgical hand piece disclosed in pending U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/688,723 entitled TELESCOPING DEVICE WITH SALINE IRRIGATIONLINE, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein byreference.

The first receptacle 16 and the second receptacle 20 may be electricallycoupled to switching circuit 24 of the generator 12 configured to allowsimultaneous operation of the electrosurgical hand pieces 18 and 22 inthe first receptacle 16 and the second receptacle 20. The switchingcircuit 24 may include an active bipolar radiofrequency output 26, areturn bipolar radiofrequency output 28, and an active radiofrequencymonopolar output 30 all electrically couplable together and to the firstreceptacle 16 and the second receptacle 20 through a plurality of relays32. In particular, the first receptacle 16 may be in electricalcommunication with a first relay 32 a and a second relay 32 b disposedbetween the return bipolar radiofrequency output 28 and the firstreceptacle 16. The return bipolar radiofrequency output 28 is furtherdisposed between the first relay 32 a and the second relay 32 b. A thirdrelay 32 c may also be electrically coupled to the first receptacle 16,the third relay 32 c being disposed between the first receptacle 16 andthe active bipolar radiofrequency output 26. Accordingly, the secondrelay 32 b may be disposed between the first relay 32 a and the thirdrelay 32 c.

When the generator 12 is operating in a mode to deliver electricalenergy to both the first receptacle 16 and the second receptacle 20 forsimultaneous operation of the electrosurgical hand pieces 18 and 22, thefirst relay 32 a is set in an open position, the second relay 32 b isset in a closed position, and the third relay 32 c is set in a closedposition. In such a configuration, current transmitted from the activebipolar radiofrequency output 26 is relayed toward the first receptacle16 and current transmitted from the return bipolar radiofrequency output28 is also transmitted to the first receptacle 16. Bipolarradiofrequency energy alternates from being transmitted from the returnbipolar radiofrequency output 28 and the active bipolar radiofrequencyoutput 28 to avoid a DC bias during bipolar radiofrequency treatment oftissue which may harm the patient. During simultaneous operation of theelectrosurgical hand pieces 18 and 20, the first relay 32 a is open,which prevents bipolar radiofrequency current from being transmitted tothe second receptacle 20.

The second receptacle 20 is configured to receive and electricallycouple with the second electrosurgical hand piece 22. In oneconfiguration, the second electrosurgical hand piece 22 is a combinationelectrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver both monopolar andbipolar radiofrequency energy and in another configuration the secondelectrosurgical hand piece 22 is an electrosurgical hand piececonfigured to deliver monopolar energy only. Accordingly, the secondreceptacle 20 is configured to receive multiple types of hand pieces. Inan exemplary configuration, the second electrosurgical hand piece 22includes an EEPROM 34 configured to communicate the type of hand pieceis coupled to the generator 12. For example, the EEPROM 34 may determinethat the second electrosurgical hand piece 22 is an electrosurgical handpiece configured to deliver both monopolar and bipolar radiofrequencyenergy. If bipolar energy is requested by the user, the relays 32 areset such that bipolar energy is delivered only to the second receptacle20 and not to the first receptacle 16. If either a monopolar onlyelectrosurgical hand piece 22 is electrically coupled to the secondreceptacle 20 or monopolar energy is selected from a combination secondelectrosurgical hand piece 22, a controller 36 in communication with theEEPROM 34 determines that monopolar energy is to be delivered to thesecond receptacle 20 and allows for simultaneous delivery of monopolarand bipolar energy.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, the second receptacle 20 is configured tobe electrically couplable to the active bipolar radiofrequency output26, the return bipolar radiofrequency output 28, and the activeradiofrequency monopolar output 30. In particular, the activeradiofrequency monopolar output 30 is configured to provide monopolarradiofrequency energy to the second receptacle 20 simultaneously withthe active bipolar radiofrequency output 26 and/or the return bipolarradiofrequency output 28 providing bipolar energy to the firstreceptacle 16. To that end, a fourth relay 32 d and a fifth relay 32 eare electrically coupled to the second receptacle 20. In an exemplaryconfiguration, the fourth relay 32 d is disposed between the third relay32 c and the fifth relay 32 e. Moreover, the fifth relay 32 e isdisposed between the active radiofrequency monopolar output 30 and thefourth relay 32 d. In such a configuration, when the second receptacle20 is configured to provide radiofrequency energy simultaneously withthe first receptacle 16.

In an exemplary operation of the switching circuit 24 to provide forsimultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the first electrosurgicalhand piece 18 and the second electrosurgical hand piece 22, when thefirst electrosurgical hand piece 18 is electrically coupled to the firstreceptacle 16, the first relay 32 a is set in an open configuration andthe second relay 32 b and the third relay 32 c are set in a closedconfiguration. Such a configuration allows both the active bipolarradiofrequency output 26 and the return bipolar radiofrequency output 28to transmit radiofrequency energy to the first receptacle 16 through thethird relay 32 c and the second relay 32 b respectively, which transferthe bipolar radiofrequency to the first electrosurgical hand piece 18.When the second electrosurgical hand piece 22, whether a monopolar onlyhand piece or a combination of monopolar or bipolar hand piece iselectrically coupled to the second receptacle 20, the EEPROM 34determines which second electrosurgical hand piece 22 is coupled to thesecond receptacle 20, and determines if monopolar energy is selected tobe delivered. If monopolar energy is selected by the user to be used inthe second receptacle 20, the controller 36 sets the relays 32 forsimultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the first electrosurgicalhand piece 18 and the second electrosurgical hand piece 22. Inparticular, the fourth relay 32 d is set to an open configuration andthe first relay 32 e is set to a closed position such that monopolarradiofrequency energy transmitted from the active monopolarradiofrequency output is relay to the second receptacle 20 through thefifth relay 32 e. The monopolar radiofrequency energy may then betransmitted from the second electrosurgical hand piece 22 to the patientand returned to the generator from a return monopolar radiofrequencyoutput 38, which may be a grounded back plate, and back into thegenerator 12 through a monopolar return connector 40.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above tothe contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawingsare not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teachings without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrosurgical unit, comprising: aradiofrequency generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy;the radiofrequency generator including: a first receptacle configured toelectrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured todeliver bipolar radiofrequency energy, the first receptacle beingelectrically couplable to at least one from the group consisting of anactive bipolar radiofrequency output, a return bipolar radiofrequencyoutput, and an active monopolar radiofrequency output; a secondreceptacle configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgicalhand piece configured to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy, thesecond receptacle being electrically couplable to at least one from thegroup consisting of the active bipolar radiofrequency output, the returnbipolar radiofrequency output, and the active monopolar radiofrequencyoutput; and the radiofrequency generator including a relay circuitconfigured to allow simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to theelectrosurgical hand pieces in the first receptacle and the secondreceptacle, the relay circuit including: a first relay and a secondrelay disposed between the return bipolar radiofrequency output and thefirst receptacle; a third relay disposed between the first receptacleand the active bipolar radiofrequency output; and a fourth relaydisposed between the second receptacle and the active monopolarradiofrequency output.
 2. The electrosurgical unit of claim 1, whereinduring simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to theelectrosurgical hand pieces, the first relay is open and the secondrelay is closed.
 3. The electrosurgical unit of claim 2, a whereinduring simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to theelectrosurgical hand pieces, the third relay is closed.
 4. Theelectrosurgical unit of claim 3, wherein the relay circuit furtherincludes a fifth relay disposed between the second receptacle and theactive monopolar radiofrequency output, and wherein during simultaneousradiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces, thefourth relay is open and the fifth relay is closed.
 5. Theelectrosurgical unit of claim 4, wherein the fourth relay is disposedbetween the third relay and the fifth relay.
 6. The electrosurgical unitof claim 5, wherein the fifth relay is disposed between the fourth relayand the active monopolar radiofrequency output.
 7. The electrosurgicalunit of claim 6, wherein the active bipolar radiofrequency output isdisposed between the third relay and the fourth relay.
 8. Anelectrosurgical unit, comprising: a radiofrequency generator configuredto generate electrosurgical energy, the radiofrequency generatorincluding: a first receptacle configured to electrically couple with anelectrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver bipolar radiofrequencyenergy, the first receptacle being electrically couplable to an activebipolar radiofrequency output, a return bipolar radiofrequency output,and an active monopolar radiofrequency output; a second receptacleconfigured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piececonfigured to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy, the secondreceptacle being electrically couplable to the active bipolarradiofrequency output, the return bipolar radiofrequency output, and theactive monopolar radiofrequency output; the radiofrequency generatorincluding a relay circuit configured to allow simultaneousradiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces in thefirst receptacle and the second receptacle, the relay circuit including:a first relay and a second relay disposed between the return bipolarradiofrequency output and the first receptacle, wherein duringsimultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical handpieces, the first relay is open and the second relay is closed; a thirdrelay disposed between the first receptacle and the active bipolarradiofrequency output, wherein during simultaneous radiofrequency energydelivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces, the third relay is closed;and a fourth relay and a fifth relay disposed between the secondreceptacle and the active monopolar radiofrequency output, whereinduring simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to theelectrosurgical hand pieces, the fourth relay is open and the fifthrelay is closed.